DORSET THEATRE FESTIVAL Celebrates 2018 Giving Back Program With Inaugural Community Partner Night

This season, Dorset Theatre Festival aims to expand participation and awareness for its Giving Back Program and thank its regional business partners by hosting three pre-show receptions honoring community heroes. The first of these Community Partner Nights took place on June 28 in honor of Vermont's volunteer firefighters. The event was sponsored by The Barn Restaurant and Tavern in Pawlet.

Members of the Dorset, Manchester, and Pawlet Fire Departments, their families, and Dorset Theatre Festival's corporate sponsors and advertisers showed up early for the evening performance of the theatre's production of Cry It Out to find the Dorset Playhouse filled with food and libations donated by area businesses. The Dorset Union Store, Barrows House, The Dorset Inn, The Marble West Inn, Mio's Bistro Mobile, Dorset Rising, and the Inn at Westview Farm provided gourmet platters. Local musician William Seeders Mosheim performed live on his banjo throughout the reception. Community members including State Representatives Linda Joy Sullivan and Susan Buckholz were among those raising a glass after a toast by the Festival's artistic director, Dina Janis.

Dorset Theatre Festival will host two more Community Partner Nights this summer. On July 26, the reception will be sponsored by Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in honor of rescue workers and nurses. The Vermont Country Store will host the third event, on August 16, in celebration of local farmers. All honorees and their families are invited to the receptions and to enjoy the evening performance for free. Dorset Theatre Festival sponsors receive half-price tickets to the events for all of their employees.

Giving Back Ticket Initiative

Since 2010, Dorset Theatre Festival's Giving Back Program has helped expand the reach of the summer company's professional productions and educational initiatives by providing Pay-What-You-Like tickets to deserving groups.

"Our Giving Back Program is at the heart of what we do here," said Janis. By actively reaching out into the community, Janis and her team at the Festival hope to reach a new generation of theatre audiences who otherwise might not have the chance to see the world-class theatre happening locally. "It is also a way for us to give back to those in our community who give so much every single day," she said.

Though the new Community Partner Nights serve to highlight the Giving Back initiative, the theatre provides Pay-What-You-like tickets to all of its performances for EMS Workers, Farmers, Firefighters, Police, Military, veterans, the special needs community, student graduates of the Refuse to Use Program, and Habitat for Humanity volunteers.

Dorset Theatre Festival is Vermont's only Blue Star Theatre, a national network of theatres that provide discounted or complimentary tickets to military families.

Subscriptions for the 2018 Summer Season and single tickets are on sale now. The box office may be reached by calling (802) 867-2223 ext. 101, Tuesday through Saturday, 12 - 6 pm. For more information, or to purchase subscriptions and tickets online, visit www.dorsettheatrefestival.org.

Dorset Theatre Festival is sponsored for its 41st season by Manchester Designer Outlets.

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